Sediment Pore-Water Toxicity Test Results and Preliminary Toxicity Identification of Post-Landfall Pore-Water Samples Collected Following the Deepwate

Pore water from coastal beach and marsh sediments from the northern Gulf of Mexico, pre- and post-landfall of the Deepwater Horizon oil release, were collected and evaluated for toxicity with the sea urchin fertilization and embryological development assays. There were 17 pre-landfall samples and 49 post-landfall samples tested using both assays. Toxicity was determined in four pre-landfall sites and in seven post-landfall sites in one or both assays as compared to a known reference sediment pore-water sample collected in Aransas Bay, Texas. Further analysis and testing of five of the post-landfall toxic samples utilizing Toxicity Identification Evaluation techniques indicated that ammonia, and to a lesser extent metals, contributed to most, if not all, of the observed toxicity in four of the five samples. Results of one sample (MS-39) indicated evidence that ammonia, metals, and non-ionic organics were contributing to the observed toxicity.

Author: U. S. Department of the Interior

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Publication Date: Feb 19, 2014

Number of Pages: 86 pages

Binding: Paperback or Softback

ISBN-10: 149595871X

ISBN-13: 9781495958717